In his first year in the NFL, Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster quickly proved to be a promising talent with star potential. It has put him in the fold a primary piece to the puzzle that the team is looking to depend on in their passing game for years to come.

Smith-Schuster could be headed toward an even more explosive 2018 campaign with his role set to increase after the departure of Martavis Bryant in a trade to the Oakland Raiders during the first round of this year's NFL Draft. According to Joe Rutter of Triblive.com, the Steelers may be looking to play him more out of the slot as the clear No. 2 in the passing game behind Pro Bowler Antonio Brown.

With Bryant gone, Smith-Schuster moves into the full-time role as No. 2 receiver. He could spend time in the slot if the Steelers elect to use rookie James Washington on the outside.

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Smith-Schuster showed plenty of ability to be a huge factor in the slot last season behind his route running and ability to consistently gain separation from defenders. This helped him put up a rookie franchise record 917 receiving yards on 58 catches with seven touchdowns.

The 21-year-old has the potential to take that a step further next season with a full year under his belt to get acclimated to playing in the NFL with furthering his on-the-field chemistry with Pro Bowl quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. There will be plenty of opportunities for him to etch out the role as the clear No.2 receiving option in the passing game that could further elevate the team toward reaching their Super Bowl hopes.

It all lies on Smith-Schuster's shoulder to make the most of this situation that could see him quickly become a rising star in the league as one of the top young players at his position.